Aero Digital Life

Apple has announced its latest version of OS X for Macs — and like all iterations of its desktop operating system, the latest version is named after a big cat. It’s called Mountain Lion, and it will be more like iOS than ever, as Apple integrates various mobile services and moves to yearly OS updates across all its devices.

Mountain Lion is available for preview today in two ways. If you’re a consumer, you can read about the new features at Apple’s website. If you have a developer account, you can download and install the updated operating system. And anyone running OS X Lion can download and install the beta version of Messages, a new app that replaces iChat for instant messaging, and integrates iMessages, the Apple-only text-message replacement service for iPhone, iPad and now Mac.

Even the name “Messages” helps indicate Mountain Lion’s guiding philosophy. It extends OS X Lion’s “Back to the Mac” approach of pulling ideas and concepts from Apple’s mobile ecosystem into the desktop. There’s no more iChat, iCal or Address Book. You’ll soon be using Messages, Calendar and Contacts — the same names on all products, with no more of the outdated “i” in front of app names. AirPlay, Game Center, Reminders, Notes and Notification Center are all new to the Mac too, looking much like their iOS counterparts.